1945 Willys Jeep Rat Rod

Jeeps are quite possibly the most badass, most capable off roading vehicles on the planet. Rat Rods are quite possibly one of the coolest looking vehicles to hit the asphalt. So what do you get when you fuse the two vehicles together? That’s exactly what the team at Randy Ellis Design did with their 1945 Willys Jeep Rat Rod.

The Willys Jeep was built in the early 1940s, and was considered by many to be the iconic World War II Jeep. Automotive enthusiasts still love the thing, and who could blame them? Randy Ellis and his team built this bad boy from the ground up, and although it looks like the genuine thing, it’s actually a fiberglass constructed replica. There are a few authentic Willys parts found throughout the vehicle though, and the design team did a stand-up job creating a modern day replica Jeep dragster. The vehicle has been outfitted with air bag suspension allowing 7 inches of travel, full radio, vintage Stewart Warner gauges in the center dash, and a fold out windshield that eliminates the need for air conditioning. The custom fabricated Rat Rod is powered by a 1977 Chevy 350 V8 engine that has been paired with a 3 speed automatic transmission helping this thing reach cruising speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. It may not climb rocks like a Jeep, but it sure looks good.